Automatic servo system for electric cable marking machines

ABSTRACT

An automatic servo system for marking machines, comprising cable run measuring means positioned upstream of a marking machine, cable cutting means positioned downstream thereof, and an electronic unit for generating marking control signals, for changing the pitch of the marking and for cutting the cable, said unit being controlled by the cable run measuring means.

United States Patent 1 Reiorzo Jan. 16, 1973 1 AUTOMATIC SERVO SYSTEMFOR ELECTRIC CABLE MARKING MACHINES [75 Inventor: Jean Baptiste MarieReform, Marseille, France [73] Assignee: Societe Nationale IndustrlelleAerospatlale, Paris, Seine, France 221 Filedz Jan. 15,1971

[2]] App1.No.: 106,870

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 19, 1970 France ..7001775[52] U.S. Cl ..3l8/600, 101/37 [51] Int. Cl; ..G05b 19/26 [58] Field ofSearch ..3l8/l42, 600, 601; 101/37 [56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,181,403 5/1965 Stems et a1. .318/600 X 2,692,361 10/1954Asbury et a1. 1 .318/142 3,048,751 8/1962 Taylor ..318/601 X 3,195,3857/1965 Patterson ..318/600 X Primary Examiner-T. E. LynchAttorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen [57] ABSTRACT An automaticservo system for marking machines, comprising cable run measuring meanspositioned upstream of a marking machine, cable cutting means positioneddownstream thereof, and an electronic unit for generating markingcontrol signals,for changing the pitch of the marking and for cuttingthecable, said unit being controlled by the cable run measuring means. a

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAH 16 I975 SHEET 1 [IF 6PATENTEDJAN 16 1915 SHEET 3 [IF 6 PATENTEUJM 16 I975 SHEET l 1F 6AUTOMATIC SERVO SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC CABLE MARKING MACHENES The presentinvention relates to an automatic servo system for electric cablemarking machines and more particularly for cables used in electricalsystems on board aircraft.

Certain aeronautical industry standards require that the cables orelectrical conductors used in such installations be identified by directmarkings on their covering according to the function of the circuit towhich they belong and by sections along that circuit. These standardsspecify a marking code which is used by design offices when preparingwiring diagrams. The application of such standards offers undeniableadvantages for eliminating errors in the connections to the variouscomponents in an installation, and observing these standards during thequantity production of electric cable harnesses imposes a cable orconductor marking phase applicable to all the harnesses.

The currently manufactured machines used for this purpose are generallyof the manually or semi-auto- I matically controlled type. They allowthe cables to be marked on a one shot basis or continuously, but in thelatter case changes in the pitch of the markings usually have to becommanded. Such changes of pitch enable smaller intervals to be obtainedbetween the identification or other marks at the cable ends in order tofacilitate the reading of the marks over the connection areas, while awider pitch over the middle portion of the cable will enable the latterto be run through the machine faster and furthermore means a saving inribbon in the case of machines utilizing a marking ribbon.

Further, such machines do not cut the cables, nor coil them into sets ofidentically-marked cut cables, and this work requires the presence of anoperative throughout operation of the machine.

lt is, among other things, the object of this invention to overcomethese drawbacks and to permit the marking of series of cables with anautomatic change of pitch, automatic cutting of the cables to preprogrammed running lengths, and grouped coiling up of identically markedcables of equal length with automatic stopping of the machine uponcompletion, the only manual operations required being to preset thenumber and length of cables to be processed.

It is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide anautomatic servo system for electric cable marking machines of the kindcomprising cable transfer means, marking means, control means of theaforesaid means and means for controlling changes of pitch in themarkings by varying the relative pace of the cable transfer means andthe marking means.

A system according to this invention is characterized by the fact thatit includes cable run measuring means positioned upstream of the markingmachine, cable cutting means positioned downstream thereof, and anelectronic unit for generating signals for controlling the marking, thechanges in the pitch of the markings and the cutting of the cable, saidunit being controlled by the cable run measuring means and comprisingseriesconnected decade units for in-parallel control of binary-decimalconverters the outputs of which are connected to switches the positionsof whose cursors represent a presetting of the length to be imparted toeach cable, means for automatically activating a system that shunts thecable transfer control means of the marking machine, means foractivating the pitch change control means after a predetermined lengthof cable has run through, and means for releasing such control means ata different predetermined cable length short of the full preset lengthof cable which is run through, cable cutting control means activatedfrom the set of switch cursors when the measured length reaches thepreset length and means for zeroing the decade units responsively tooperation of the cable cutting means.

The system according to this invention is consequently adaptable to allmarking machines which comprise or are capable of receiving a cabletransfer and marking servo control device.

It is to be noted that the signals which control cable marking, markingpitch and cutting are generated according to the preset inputs and areslaved to the cable run. Changes of pitch can be programmedautomatically according to the cable length. If necessary, however, theautomatic pitch change circuit can be rendered inoperative in order toobtain constant smallpitch marking.

The description which follows with reference to the accompanyingnon-limitative exemplary drawings will give a clear understanding of howthe invention can be carried into practice.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective showing of an installation whichincludes a marking machine and a servo system according to thisinvention;

W0. 2 illustrates the cable run measuring means of the servo controlsystem and means for supplying cable thereto;

FIGS. 3 to 6 jointly represent, following a juxtaposition wherebyconductors bearing the same reference letter a to z and a to l, arefetched into registry, the electrical circuit diagram of the programmingand signal generating unit for controlling the system;

And FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the manner of operation of the system inits initial and final stages.

The system illustrated in FIG. l is composed of a cable marking machine1, a metal cabinet 2 having two slide-in units 3 and 4 each comprising avertical front panel 5 (or 6) and a horizontal plate 7 (or 8) within thecabinet and on which are respectively mounted an electronic circuitrytype programming and control signal generating unit and a cable feed andcable run measuring unit, a spool 9 carrying cable 10, a cable cuttingunit 11, a coiling unit 12 and a stepwise cable transfer pedal 13.

The marking machine ll may be a machine which printmarks and whichincludes a heated marker-holder 14 which receives a mark-setter and isactuated by a pneumatic jack 15, a cable guide 16 positioned beneath themarker, a roll 17 for supplying a printing ribbon 18 and driven by themarker-holder, the ribbon being fetched into contact with the cable, andtwo pulleys at the exit end of the cable guide, of which one pulley I9is driven by a motor and the other pulley 20 is loosely mounted, the twotogether causing the cable to advance by gripping it between them.

As shown in FIG. 1, the front panel 5 of slide-in unit 3 mounts a knob21 for setting the number of cables to be processed (graduated forexample from 1 to 24), a changeover switch 22 which renders the circuitsof the programming and control signal generating unit operative eitherfor a First cable test sequence or for an Automatic sequence, a switch23 which controls the circuits of said unit either for Fine pitch"marking or for Fine pitch coarse pitch marking, the role of this switchbeing to neutralize the automatic pitch change function in cases wherefine pitch marking is required on long cable lengths, an On-Hold switch24 for momentarily arresting the marking (the length of cable al readymarked being memorized), three knobs 25, 26 and 27 for respectivelysetting the decameters, meters and decimeters of length to be impartedto each cable, graduated respectively from to 9, an On-Off switch 28, aVoltage present indicator light 29 and two protective fuse cartridges30.

Carried on the inside face of panel are four rotary switches 31, 32, 33and 34 connected respectively to knobs 21, 25, 26 and 27 (FIGS. 3, 4 and5).

Upon and beneath plate 7 of the same slide-in unit 3 are mounted a stoprelay 35 (FIG. 6), a stepwise selector 36 (FIG. 5) which registers thenumber of cables cut and marked, a plug-in support for receiving fifteenwired modules 37 through 51 .which carry the electronic components forperforming the functional sequences of the programming and controlsignal generating unit, and wiring for interconnecting theabovespecified elements and for connecting them to quick-disconnectconnectors 52, 53 and 54 (FIGS. 5 and 6) mounted at the rear of theslide-in unit and enabling this circuitry to be connected to acutting-jack electrically-operated valve 55, to a pedal current outlet56, to the pedal 13, to an electrically-operated pitch changedistributor 57 which operates on the relative rates of pulley l9 andjack and to a cable cutting microswitch 58 in the case of connector 52,to the cable supply and cable run measuring unit 59 in the case ofconnector 53 and to the mains in the case of connector 54. The powersupply for the complete unit is also contained in this slide-in unit.

As shown in FIG. 1, the outer face of panel 6 of slidein unit 4 mountsfive pulleys 60 through 64 and two cable-guides 65 and 66. The twopulleys 60 and 61 are cable-guiding pulleys located at either, end ofthe slidein unit, the former on the side of spool 9 and the latter onthe side of machine 1; they can be raised by means of a central knob 67which through the agency of its spindle and cams 68 carried thereon,acts upon the ends of two levers 69 which are placed on the other sideof the panel and fulcrumed about pins 70 and carry on'their other endsthe hub axles of the two pulleys, these levers being urged back intoposition by springs 71 fastened to plate 8. Pulley 62 is positionedbelow pulley 61 and is tangential thereto when the latter is inits'bottorn position, pulley 62 being used to measure the cable run andhaving its diameter determined accordingly. Pulley 63 is a groovedpulley loosely mounted on its axle and positioned upstream of pulleys 61and 62 and its purpose is to facilitate cable transfer responsively topulling forces from the marking machine. Mounted along a radial axis ofthe pulley 63 and fast with the axle thereof is a feed stick 72 which inits resting position is vertical and comprises along its length tworings 73 through which the cable passes before running over pulley 66,and this stick pivots toward pulley 60 when the machine exerts pullingforces. Pulley 64 is a pulley with an anti-slip coating which ispositioned below pulley and which is tangential thereto when the latteris in its bottom position; this pulley is used for paying out the cable.The two cable-guides and 66 ensure that the cable runs correctly throughthe pulley systems 60-64 and 61-62 and are positioned at the entriesthereinto respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, slide-in unit 4 contains, in addition to the cams68, the levers 69 and the springs 71, two cams 74 and 75, fourmicroswitches 76 through 79, a motor 80 which drives pulley 64 throughthe agency of reduction gearing 81 and a friction-type torque limiter82, and a cable run transducer 83. The two earns 74 and 75 are fast withthe rotation axle 84 of stick 72 and their lobes are offset in relationto the vertical position of said stick. The lobe on cam 74 is offset by30 and actuates the first microswitch 76 to energize motor after thestick 72 has pivoted through 30 relative to its vertical restingposition. Thus when the marking machine exerts a normal pull on thecable, stick 72 pivots; if the cable is restrained by pulleys 60 and 64,the motor 80 is energized and drives pulley 64 to cause the cable toadvance. Further, microswitches 77 and 78 are actuated by the levers 69to arrest operation of the system when pulleys 60 and 61 have beenraised, thereby to facilitate engagement of the cable through the stickrings 73 without placing a load on the feed motor 80. The lobe on cam 75is offset by 75 and actuates the fourth microswitch 79 which isseries-connected to microswitches 77 and 78 in such a way as to cause itto cut off the electric power to the marking machine and the motor 80when the stick is tilted at 75 to its vertical resting position.Thislatter arrangement constitutes a safeguard to prevent damage to theconductors in the event of accidental jamming of the cable during themarking process. Transducer 83 is formed by a circularly perforated disc84 which interposes itself between a light source 85 and a photodiode86. The transition from a perforation to a solid area corresponds to lcentimeter of cable rum over pulley 62, whereby the measuring signalsare picked up to within 1 centimeter. Disc 84 is fast with the axle ofpulley 62,

though with a degree of angular play, through the agen cy of a peg 87and a stop 88, and between disc 84 and the housing of light source 85and also between the disc and the housing of photodiode 86 arepositioned fixed expanses of felt 89 which rub against the disc and intowhich are let suitable openings to allow the light beam to pass through.The purpose of this arrangement is to prevent return motion of the discin the direction opposite to the normal direction of travel of the cabledur-. ing movements of the stick (which would produce errors ofmeasurement) and also to prevent stray light rays from penetrating intothe optical unit.

The cable cutting unit 11 comprises a guillotine-type knife 90 actuatedby a pneumatic jack which is itself activated by the valve 55 (FIG. 6)controlled by the electronic circuitry in the programming and controlsignal generating unit. The movable knife blade 91 is rigid with aninlet cable-guide tube 92 carrying a pusher 93 which, as soon as thecutting phase is initiated, bears upon an arm 94 carrying pulley 20 in adirection tending to move it away from pulley 19 against counteringreturn springs 95 whereby to release the cable drive. The knife exitcable-guide tube, which is fast with the fixed portion of theguillotine, extends into the open top of a vertical-axis cylindricalreceiving drum 12 for coiling the cable by feeding in the lattertangentially to the side wall of the drum. By reason, inter alia, of theshape of the receiving drum, this arrangement, which is well known perse, permits automatic grouped coilings of the sets of identically markedcables of equal length.

The electronic circuitry type programming and control signal generatingunit illustrated by FIGS. 3 to 6 basically comprises the five modules 37to 51, the four rotary switches 31 to 34, the stepwise selector 36 and amain power supply strip 100 (FIG. 5).

Modules 37, 38, 40 and 42 carry four decade units for the centimeters,decimeters, meters and decameters respectively, each unit havingfourteen terminals of which one is connected to a decade zeroing means101, one to the 0 V voltage, two to the +6 V voltage and one to the 6 Vvoltage, and each of the first three decade units has one terminalconnected to another terminal of the next decade unit whereby tointerconnect the four units in series.

Modules 39,41 and 43 respectively carry three binary-decimal convertersparallel-connected respectively to the decade-units 38, 40 and 42 bysets of nine input terminals for each converter that are connected tonine output terminals for each decade unit (including the -6 V terminaland, in respect of units 38 and 40, the terminal connected to the nextdecade unit).

Stepwise selector 36 comprises an actuating solenoid 102 and three banksof 25 contacts each 36a, 36b and 36c associated respectively to threelines the last two of which are at 6 V and 0 V respectively.

Of rotary selectors 31, 32, 33 and 34, the first and the third each havethree switching surfaces 31a, 31b, 31c and 33a, 33b, 330 of 10 studseach, the second has seven switching surfaces 32a through 32g of 10studs each, and the fourth has two switching surfaces 34a and 34b of 24studs each. The 10 studs 0 through 9 of each of contact surfaces 31a,32a and 33a are connected respectively via three lO-Wire rakes to 10output terminals 0 through 9 of converters 39, 41 and 43, and thiswithout any stagger. Similarly, the 10 studs 0 through 9 of each ofcontact surfaces'31b, 32b, 32c, 32d and 33b are likewise connected bymeans of l0-wire rakes to the 10 output terminals 0 through 9respectively of converter 39 in the case of contact surface 31b, ofconverter 41 in the case of contact surfaces 32b, 32c and 32d and ofconverter 43 in the case of contact surface 33b, but here theinterconnections are staggered to the extent of one position in the caseof contact surfaces 32b and 33b, i.e. from 1 to 0 through 9 to 8 andfurthermore from 0 to 9 in the case of contact surface 32b (with studs 0and l of contact surface 33b being interconnected), staggered by twopositions in the case of contact surface 32c, i.e. from 0 to 8 through 9to 7, and staggered by three positions in the case of contact sur faces31b and 32d, i.e. from O to 7 through 9 to 6. Likewise, separatelyinterconnected are the sets of studs 0 through 2 and 3 through 9 ofcontact surface 310, 1 through 9 of contact surface 32e, 0 through 2 and3 through 9 of contact surface 32f, 3 through 9 of contact surface 32gand 2 through 9 of contact surface 330. Lastly, the 24 studs of the twocontact surfaces 34a and 34!: are connected by two 24-wire rakesrespectively to contacts 2 through 25 of bank 36c of selector 36 and tocontacts I through 24 of bank 36b of selector 36.

Of connectors 52, 53 and 54, the first two have nine terminals and thethird four terminals.

Module 45 (FIG. 3) includes a negative gate 103, an amplifier .104 and aflip-flop 105, and I5 terminals of which seven are used to connect theinput of gate 103 respectively to four terminals of decade unit 37 andto each of the output terminals 0 of converters 39, 41 and 43, threeothers for respectively placing the input of amplifier 104 and the firstenergizing means of flip-flop 105 at 0 V, the input of amplifier 104 andflip-flop 105 as a whole at +6 V, and the input of gate 103, the inputof amplifier 104 and the second energizing means of flip-flop 105 at 6V, another for connecting the first DC input on the base of flip-flop105 (which input is further connected to the output of amplifier 104 viaa resistor and a diode) to the cursor of contact surface 34b of selector34, another to connect via a diode the second dc input on the base offlip-flop 105 (which input is likewise connected via a resistor to afurther terminal connected to module 44) to master zeroing means 107,and another one 108 to connect the second collector of flip-flop tomodule 46. The output from gate 103 isfurthermore connected to the inputof amplifier 104.

Module 44 (FIG. 3) comprises a negative gate 109, two series-connectedamplifiers 110 and 111, another gate 112 and another amplifier 113, andten terminals of which three are used to connect the input of gate 109to the three cursors of contact surfaces 31a, 32a and 33a respectively,another to connect terminal 106 of module 45 to the output of amplifier11 3 via a nonreturn diode, another to place at -30 V (via a nonreturndiode) the output of amplifier 11 1 which is additionally connecteddirectly, through another terminal 114, on the one hand via terminal 1of connector 52 to the coil of electrically operated valve 55 and on theother via a non-return diode to one end of the solenoid 102 of selector36 the other end of which is placed at 30 V, and another (115) toconnect module 47 to the input of gate 112. The output of gate 109 isfurther connected to the input of amplifier 110, the output thereof toan input of gate 1 12, and the output from the latter to the input ofamplifier 1 13.

Module 46 (FIG. 6) has two amplifiers 116 and 117 connected in seriesand six terminals, of which one is used to connect terminal 108 ofmodule 45 to the input of amplifier 116, another three to place theinputs of the two amplifiers at -6 V, 0 V and +6 V respectively, andanother to place the output of amplifier 117 at 30 V (via a non-returndiode), which output is furthermore connected directly by means of afinal terminal 118 to relay 35.

Module 47 (FIG. 3) has a positive gate 119 and three negative gates 120,121 and 122, and thirteen terminals of which one is used to connectterminal 115 of module 44 to the output of gate 119, another to connectthe cursor of switching surface 31b to an input of each of gates 120,121 and 1122, another to connect the cursor of switching surface 32a toan input of gate 120, another to connect the cursor of switching surface33a to an input of each of gates 120 and 121 another to connect thecursor of switching surface 32b to an input of gate 122, another toconnect the cursor of switching surface 34b to an input of each of gates120, 121 and 122 which, via a resistor, are placed by means of anotherterminal at V, another to connect studs 0 through 2 of switching surface310 and the cursor of switching surface 32e to an input of gate 120,another to connect stud 0 of switching surface 32e to an input of gate121, another to connect studs 3 through 9 of switching surface 31c to aninput of each of gates 121 and 122, which gates are further connected byanother terminal 123 to the cursor of switching surface 33b and tomodule 49, another to connect studs 1 through 9 of switching surface 32eto an input of gate 122, and the last one to place inputs of gates 120,121 and 122 at 6 V. In addition, the outputs of these three gates areconnected to the'input of gate 119.

The stopping and drive engaging relay 35 includes a coil 124 which isconnected between a contact of changeover switch 22 (via a diode) andterminal 118 of module 46 (via a resistor). It has two contacts, ofwhich one, the contact 125, allows, via terminals and 6 of connector 52,of making or breaking the circuit of pedal 13 (which circuit is furtherconnected to the line supply connector 56), while the other contact 126allows of simultaneously placing at 30 V, via a capacitor 127, either aterminal 128 (when contact 125 is in the circuit making position), or acontact 129 which is connected to coil 124 (on the side of terminal118).

. In its Hold position, changeover switch 24 closes a circuit betweencontact 129 of relay 35 and the contact 128 thereof via a resistor whichis place at -30 V.

Changeover switch 22 has three sets of contacts 130, 131 and 132 whichrespectively place, in the Automatic position, coil 124 relay 35 at -30V, and, in the First cable test position, place at +6 V firstly the mainzeroing means 107, secondly (via a diode) the decades zeroing means 101,and thirdly (via a terminal 8 of connector 52) the cable'cuttingmicroswitch 58 (the other contact of which is placed at +6 V via aterminal 9 of connector 52), and at 0 V the line 133 associated to bank36a of selector 36.

Module 49 (FIG. 6) has six negative gates 134 through 139, a positivegate 140, and fourteen terminals of which four are used to separatelyconnect stud 0, stud l, stud 2 and studs 3 through 9 of switchingsurface 32g respectively to inputs of gates 137, 138 and 139, to inputsof gates 134, 138 and 139, to inputs of gates 134, 135 and 139, and toinputs of gates 134, 135 and 136, another eight to respectively connectterminal 1230f module 47 and the cursor of switching surface 33b toinputs of the three gates 134,135 and 136, the cursors of switchingsurfaces 32b, 32c and 32d separately to inputs of the gate pairs134-137, 135-438 and 136-139, studs 3 through 9 of switching surface32f, stud l and studs 2 through 9 of switching surface 330 respectivelyto inputs of the gate groups 135- 138136Ms( KMN-137-136-139 and134-137-135- 138 and the cursor of switching surface 33a to inputs ofgates 137, 138 and 139, another terminal 141 to connect the output ofgate 140 to module 48, the last terminal being placed at 6 V. Further,the outputs of gates 134 through 139 are connected to inputs of gate140.

Module 51 (FIG. 6) comprises a Schmidt trigger circuit 142, plusterminals of which one connects trigger circuit 142 to a furtherterminal 143 of decade unit 37.

Module 48 (FIG 5) includes three negative gates 144, 145 and 146, apositive gate 147, two amplifiers 148 and 149, a bistable multivibrator150, and sixteen terminals of which eleven respectively connect terminal141 of module 49 to the input of amplifier 149, the decade zeroing means101 via a diode to a first DC input on the base of multivibrator 150 andvia another terminal to a contact of switch 23, terminals 3 through 9and terminals 0 through 2 of switching surface 32f and terminals 2through 9 and terminal 1 of switching surface 330 to inputs of gates145, 146, gates 144, 145, 146, gates 144, 145 and gates 144, 146respectively, the output terminal 0 of converter 43 to inputs of gates144, 145 146 and, separately, the output terminals 1, 2, 3 of converter41 to an input of each of the same gates respectively, and the eleventhto connect the output of amplifier 148 via a non-return diode and aresistor to the other contact of switch 23, another three respectivelyplacing at 0 V +30 the inputs of amplifiers 148 and 149 and the firstsupply input of bistable multivibrator 150, at +6 V the inputs of thetwo amplifiers and the second supply input of bistable multivibrator150, and at -6 V the inputs of said amplifiers, inputs of gates 144through 146 and bistable multivibrator 150 as a whole, the finalterminal 151 being used to connect the second collector of multivibrator150 to module 50. Further, the output of amplifier 149 is connected viaa non-return diode and a resistor to the second DC input on the base ofbistable multivibrator 150, the outputs of gates 144 through 146 to theinput of gate 147, and the output from the latter to the input ofamplifier 148.

Switch 23 opens or closes the circuit of the two terminals of module 48(to which it is connected), de-

pending on whether it is in the Fine pitch or Fine pitch coarse pitchposition.

Module 50 (FIG. 5) has two amplifiers 152 and 153 connected in series,and six terminals of which one connects terminal 151 of module 48 to theinput of amplifier 152, three others simultaneously place at -6 V, 0 V+30 and 30 6 V respectively the two inputs of the two amplifiers,another places the output of amplifier 153 at 30 V via a non-returndiode, the sixth terminal being used to connect the output of amplifier153 directly, via terminal 7 of connector 52, to the coil of theelectrically operated pitch-change distributor 57 the other end of whichcoil is placed at 30 V via a terminal 4 of connector 52.

As shown also in FIG. 6, the cable feed and cable run measuring unit 59utilizes eight terminals of connector 53, of which two are used toconnect the two parallelconnected rnicroswitches 77 and 78 betweenterminal 129 of relay 35 and the -30 V potential, two provide a 6 Vsupply to the lamp of light source with an intensity stabilizing Zenerdiode in parallel, two others supply the motor 80 throughseries-connected microswitch 76 off two terminals 155 and 156 of strip100, and the last two are used to connect reading cell 86 to twoterminals of module 51, one of which con-' trols trigger circuit 142.

Connector 54 permits of connecting to the alternating current mainssupply 154 the two terminals 155 and 156 of strip 160, one of them viathe fuse 30 and the switch 28 which closes the circuit when it is in theOn position. Strip merely comprises a conventional transformer circuitwhich steps down the V supply obtained at terminals and 156 to voltagesof 28 in the On" position, open the pneumatic circuit of jacks and 91,place the First cable test/Automatic" changeover switch 22 in the Firstcable test" position, adjust the marking machines marker-holder to thecorrect temperature and start the motor running. Next, set the marker tothe required mark and mount it on the marker-holder, set the Number ofcables" knob 21 to 10, the Decameters" knob 25 to 0, the Meters" knob 26to 4 and the Decimeters knob 27 to 0, then fit a cable reel 9 onto itssupport. Raise the pulleys 60 and 61 by rotating the lifting knob 67through a quarter turn, the effect of this being to shut off the feedmotor 80 via microswitches 77 and 78.

Grasp the end of the cable, engage it through cableguide 65, thenthrough the stick rings 73 and cableguide 66, lower the pulleys by meansof knob 67, then pull the end of the cable until it is level with theguillotine knife 91. Because the feed motor 80 is energized, thisoperation is facilitated, the reason for which may be explained asfollows as shown in FIG. 7, in the case of the nine first sections, thefirst marking point 97 may be, say, 0.30 m distant from the cuttingpoint; this makes it necessary to secure an 0.30 m lead of marked cable(not accounted for by the length counter 37-42) and to stop the markingat 980 at a point 0.30 in before the cutting point 97a when producingthe tenth and last section, as shown in FIG. 8. This operation isindispensable in order not to be penalized with an additional markedlength of 0.30 m at the end of each cutting sequence on a batch bearinga given mark, this length being lost because it adjoins the nextmark-free cable; another risk is that a given cable section could beartwo different identification marks.

Next, feed the marking machine, that is to say engage the cable throughcable-guide 16, then operate oneshot pedal 13 to make the first marking.Check the quality of the marking and the correctness of its composition,making possible adjustments to the pressure or temperature of themarker. If all is correct, operate the pedal once more to obtain asufficient length of printed cable for passage through the machine drive19-20, then through the guillotine cable-guide 93. Then set the Firstcable test/Automatic changeover switch 22 on Automatic and thereafterthe system will begin to function in the fully automatic servoed mode.

The effect of switching to Automatic is to firstly cut out the No. 1position setting of stepwise selector 36 and secondly to cut out themain zeroing means 107, thereby causing the zeroed decade-units 37through 42 to be latched no longer and to become capable of counting.This also permits switching of bistable multivibrator 105 of module 45(which was placed in a specific state when the zeroing bias was applied)and activation of relay 35. It should be noted that the switch to theoperative position of relay 35 via amplifier 117 of module 46 isdependent on a check by gate 103 that the decade-units are in the 0state. As relay 35 strips in it shunts pedal circuit 13 and the markingmachine begins to operate.

The centimetric signals supplied by transducer photodiode 86 areamplified and shaped by trigger circuit 142 of module 51, then appliedto the input 43 of the first decade-unit 37 which effects a division byten and in turn drives the decimeters decade-unit 38 which, for everyten pulses on its input, sends out one impulse to the input of themeters decade-unit 40, which operates in the same way in respect ofdecameters decade-unit 42, thereby providing a binary counter. Thebinary data supplied to each decade of the counter are decoded andconverted into decimal data by converters 39, 41 and 43, the conversionbeing such that, for the chosen exemplary length of 4 m, i.e. for 400centimetric pulses applied to the counter input, only the 0" output ofDecimeters binary-decimal converter 39, the 4 output of Metersbinary-decimal converter 41 and the 0 output of Decametersbinary-decimal converter 43 will be at a strong negative potential (-6 Vstate 1), all the remaining outputs of the converters being at a lownegative potential (0 V state 0). It is by virtue of selection of thesestates at the chosen levels by the decimeter, meter and decametersetting switches 31, 32 and 33 respectively that the data pulses forassuring the functional sequences of the system are picked up.

The first sequence is the one ending up in the switch to coarse pitch.Bistable multivibrator 150, which is placed in a determinate state whenthe zeroing bias is applied, is allowed to switch, this bias being cutoff after the switch to Automatic. The arrangement is such that when thezeroing bias is applied to 150, the pitch change jack is activated atfine pitch via its electrically operated valve 57 and amplifier 153 ofmodule 50. A 0" bias is applied to negative gates 145 and 146 of module48 via switching surface 330 of 33, the cursor of which is on 0 and viathe switching surface 32f of 32 the cursor of which is on 4". Thesegates are disabled and only gate 144 of module 48 can cause switching ofmultivibrator 150 and hence the change to Coarse pitch via positive gate147, signal regenerating amplifier 148, and switch 23. Now theinformation for controlling gate 144 is taken from output 1 of theMeters" decade-unit converter 41, so that only at the tenth decimetricpulse will this output be at a strong negative potential to causemultivibrator 150 to switch for the change to coarse pitch.

Generally speaking, selection of one or the other of gates 144, 145 or146, which depends on the positions of setting selectors 31, 32 and 33,will enable switches to coarse pitch to take place between the followinglength limits 0 m to 2.90 m fine pitch only 3 m to 9.90 m switch tocoarse pitch at 1 m 10 m to l9.90 m switch to coarse pitch at 2 m 20 mto 99.90 m switch to coarse pitch at 3 m The second sequence is the oneending up with a return to fine pitch. A 0 bias is applied to negativegates 135, 136, 138 and 139 of module 49 by switching surface 330 of 33,the cursor of which is on 0 and switching surface 32f of 32, the cursorof which is on 4". A bias is also applied to negative gate 134 by 32g of32, the cursor of which is on 4. Hence only negative gate 137 is able totransmit a revert-to-finepitch command to multivibrator 150 viaamplifier 149 and positive gate 140. In the example considered herein,the command for reverting to fine pitch is picked off via switchingsurface 32b of 32, but because this switching surface is wired with aone-position stagger and all the cursors of 32 are positioned on 4", thereturn to'fine pitch will be commanded only at the thirtieth decimetricpulse.

More generally, and by reason of the staggered wiring of switchingsurfaces 32c and 32d, it is the information picked off one of the threecursors of switching surfaces 32b, 320 or 32d, selection of which iseffected by the negative gates 134 through 139 as commanded by thelength-combination setting, that causes the return to fine pitch inaccordance with the following law 0.30 m to 2.90 m fine pitch only 3 mto 9.90 m return to fine pitch at l m +number of decimeters set up m to19.90 m return to fine pitch at 2 m number of decimeters set up m to99-90 m return to fine pitch at 3 m number of decimeters set up The thirdsequence is the one which ends with cutting of the cable. The command tocut is picked off via the cursors ofswitching surfaces 31a, 32a and 33a,which are respectively on 37 0, 4 and 0; it will consequently be at thefortieth decimetric pulse that the three inputs of negative gate 109 ofmodule 44 will all be at strong negative potential to satisfy thecondition for actuating knife 90 via control amplifier 111 ofelectrically-operatedvalve 55 and the pneumatic jack; in addition, themoving core of stepwise selector 36 moves into its operative position.As soon as mechanical action of the knife isinitiated, the machinesdrive 19 is released. Knife 91 is driven downwards by the jack, cuts thecable, and as it reaches the bottom of its travel operates themicroswitch 58 thereby to close its workingcontacts and to bias at +6 Vthe zeroing line 101 of thedecade-units while'at the same timeconfirming that multivibrator 150 is in a state to command Fine pitch; s

. The zeroedst'ateof the'decade units is verified-by gate 103 of module45;'if it is correct, relay 35 remains in its operative position.Negative gate-109 ceases to drivethe guillotine amplifier 111, themoving coreof in order to enable them to operate. Further, sincethedecimeters setter 31 is on 0, the cursor of switching surface 31cwill send a 0 bias to gate 120 in order to disable it, and since thecursor of the meters switching surface 32:: is on 4, a 0 bias will alsodisable gate 122, so that only gate 121 will remain capable oftransmitting a command. The command data for this gate are picked offfirstly via the cursor of decimeters switching surface 31b and secondlyvia the cursor of meters switching surface 32b, and because theseswitching surfaces are wired with a stagger of three and one positions,it will be possible to obtain 4 l 3 m and 0 3 7 dm. Thus the conditionsrequired to command stoppage of the marking 0.30 m short of the end ofthe last cable through the release of relay 35 via the channel formed bygates 121-119 of module 47 and amplifier 113 of module 44, throughswitching of bistable multivibrator 105 of module and through controlamplifier 117 of module 46, are met at the thirtyseventh decimetricpulse.

A stoppage in the marking of the last cable 0.30 m short of the presetlength is thus obtained automatically through selection of one ofnegative gates 120, 121 or 122, which selection is effected on the basisof the length combination preset on selectors 31, 32 and 33.

The ultimate phase consists in cutting of the last cable and stoppingfor the end of the batch. The marking machine stops, with relay 35dropped out. A pull is then exerted on the cable from the side of theguillotine cable-guide exit tube 96, and at the thirtieth centimetricpulse the knife drops by the procedure described precedingly, and thesame applies to stepwise selector 36 which advances by onecontact stud.The contact stud 11 of bank of contacts 360 willthen be in electricalregistry with stud 10" of contact surface 34a and consequently a O biaswill be applied to the input of bistable multivibrator 150 to lock relay35 in its released position. This completes the batch of cables,,andonly by setting changeover switch 22 on the First cable test position isit possible to set the various sequences in the stepwise. selector 36drops back and its cursors advance by one "step to account for the cablelength just processed. Simultaneously, the guillotine knife'rises,

the machine drive is restored and the cycle recommences to processthe-next cable in accordance with the procedurehereinbefore described. i

The 'next stage is the processing of th the marking stopping'0.30 mshort of the preset length.

- The stepwise selector advances'by one step each time the knifeoperates, whereby after. nine cable e lastcable with I processin gs thecursor on the bank of contacts 36b will f be in position 10. But sincethe number of cables to be processed is also equal to 10 the cursor ofselector 34'will also be on 10. At-this'stage,therefore','coincidericewill occur and the -6 V potential will beappliedto negative gates 120,12l-and 122 of module 47startingconfiguration ready to process a fresh batch of cables.

What I claim is p v 1; in an automatic servo system for an electriccable marking machine of the kind comprising cable drive means, markingmeans,- cutting means, controls for these means and'control rneansforchanging the pitch of the marking byvarying the relative rates of saiddrive means and'marking means, in combination,.cable-run measuring meanspositionedupstream of the 'rnarking machine, cable cutting meanspositioned downstream thereof," electronic means ,for generatingsignalsfor controlling the marking, changes'of pitch therein and cutting-ofsaid cable in markedcable' sections, said electronic means beingoperatively controlled by said cable-run measuring means andcomprising'series-connected decade-units for inparallel'control ofbinarydecimal converters the outputs of which are electrically connectedto selectors cursors the positions of which represent a presetting ofthe length to be imparted to each cable section, means forautomatically'activating means for shunting cable transfer means on saidmarking machine, means for activating the pitch change control meansafter a predetermined length of cable run and means for-releasing thesame after a further predetermined length of cable section run short ofthe full preset cable length, said activating means and release meansbeing rendered operative via those selector contact studs whichcorrespond to the preset lengths, means for actuating said cable cuttingmeans rendered operative via the several selector cursors when themeasured length reaches the-preset length, and means for zeroing saiddecade-units responsively to operation of said cutting means.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting means isoperatively connected, during its cable cutting motion, to means forreleasing said cable transfer means of said marking machine.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cable feed means includetwo tangential pulleys one of which is driven by an electric motorthrough a torque limiter.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein a cable guiding stick isdisposed between cable feed means and cable run measuring means, saidstick being pivotally mounted with a resting position normal to the linejoining the aforesaid means and having its pivoting axle supporting twocams which are adapted to so actuate two contact switches as to startand stop said electric motor when said stick is inclined at and 75respectively to its resting position.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for activating thepitch change control means are energized through an electronic triggercircuit the switching into enabling state of which is controlled via aset of parallelled negative electronic gates the inputs of which arecontrolled both via various of said contact studs of said selectors thatcorrespond to different preset pitchchange lengths and via variousconverter outputs corresponding to different preset cable lengthintervals for which said different pitch-change lengths must be used.

6. A system .as claimed in claim 5, wherein a pitch change overrideswitch is connected into the circuit for energizing the enabling stateof the electronic trigger circuit.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stepwise selector has itsmovements controlled from the selector cursors as a whole when themeasured cable length reaches the preset length and is connected to afurther selector the position of the cursor of which corresponds to apresetting of the number of cables to be marked and cut automatically ina sequential batch, said system further including a stop relay which isactuatable to cut out the shunt on the means for actuating the cabletransfer means of the marking machine via a further electronic triggercircuit the switching of which into the enabling state is controlled viaa further set of parallelled negative electronic gates the inputs ofwhich are controlled at once from the cursors of the cable lengthsetting selectors, from various other contact studs of said selectorscorresponding to the preset length for return of the pitch change andfrom the cursor of said further selector.

1. In an automatic servo system for an electric cable marking machine ofthe kind comprising cable drive means, marking means, cutting means,controls for these means and control means for changing the pitch of themarking by varying the relative rates of said drive means and markingmeans, in combination, cable-run measuring means positioned upstream ofthe marking machine, cable cutting means positioned downstream thereof,electronic means for generating signals for controlling the marking,changes of pitch therein and cutting of said cable in marked cablesections, said electronic means being operatively controlled by saidcable-run measuring means and comprising series-connected decade-unitsfor inparallel control of binary-decimal converters the outputs of whichare electrically connected to selectors cursors the positions of whichrepresent a presetting of the length to be imparted to each cablesection, means for automatically activating means for shunting cabletransfer means on said marking machine, means for activating the pitchchange control means after a predetermined length of cable run and Meansfor releasing the same after a further predetermined length of cablesection run short of the full preset cable length, said activating meansand release means being rendered operative via those selector contactstuds which correspond to the preset lengths, means for actuating saidcable cutting means rendered operative via the several selector cursorswhen the measured length reaches the preset length, and means forzeroing said decade-units responsively to operation of said cuttingmeans.
 2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting means isoperatively connected, during its cable cutting motion, to means forreleasing said cable transfer means of said marking machine.
 3. A systemas claimed in claim 1, wherein the cable feed means include twotangential pulleys one of which is driven by an electric motor through atorque limiter.
 4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein a cableguiding stick is disposed between cable feed means and cable runmeasuring means, said stick being pivotally mounted with a restingposition normal to the line joining the aforesaid means and having itspivoting axle supporting two cams which are adapted to so actuate twocontact switches as to start and stop said electric motor when saidstick is inclined at 30* and 75* respectively to its resting position.5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for activating thepitch change control means are energized through an electronic triggercircuit the switching into enabling state of which is controlled via aset of parallelled negative electronic gates the inputs of which arecontrolled both via various of said contact studs of said selectors thatcorrespond to different preset pitch-change lengths and via variousconverter outputs corresponding to different preset cable lengthintervals for which said different pitch-change lengths must be used. 6.A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein a pitch change override switchis connected into the circuit for energizing the enabling state of theelectronic trigger circuit.
 7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein astepwise selector has its movements controlled from the selector cursorsas a whole when the measured cable length reaches the preset length andis connected to a further selector the position of the cursor of whichcorresponds to a presetting of the number of cables to be marked and cutautomatically in a sequential batch, said system further including astop relay which is actuatable to cut out the shunt on the means foractuating the cable transfer means of the marking machine via a furtherelectronic trigger circuit the switching of which into the enablingstate is controlled via a further set of parallelled negative electronicgates the inputs of which are controlled at once from the cursors of thecable length setting selectors, from various other contact studs of saidselectors corresponding to the preset length for return of the pitchchange and from the cursor of said further selector.